On the way back to his courtyard, Shen Qi's feelings were somewhat complicated.
He reached into his robes to take out the medicine bottle. Looking down at it, he pressed his lips into a tight line.
He had always prided himself on being a decent, upright man who focused solely on his cultivation, yet he never realized that deep down, he harbored such beastly desires.
He despised himself!
But the moment he thought of Yuan Shu's beautiful little face and her soft curves, a secret, inexplicable urge surged from the bottom of his heart.
Without a doubt, Yuan Shu was the most beautiful woman on Qingyun Peak—no, in the entire Luoxian Sect!
Ever since she turned sixteen, she had drawn the gazes of countless male disciples within the sect.
However, because her heart belonged entirely to Shu Linyuan, and she was fiercely protected by her senior brothers, no one dared to lay a finger on her.
Shen Qi could not deny that he, too, had been captivated by her beauty.
It was just that their previous interactions had always been proper and strictly bound by etiquette.
He never expected that today, a simple act of applying medicine would break through his defenses.
The bruise wasn't large. If he truly had no distracting thoughts, how could he have touched places he shouldn't have during the process?
His hands were clearly more honest than his heart!
No, it shouldn't be like this!
He couldn't be like this!
How could he act like this?
Shen Qi struggled immensely within. He clenched his jaw, his grip on the medicine bottle tightening.
...
Inside the room, Yuan Shu pulled open her collar again and glanced at the bruise on her chest.
The medicine Shen Qi used was indeed excellent. With just a few rubs, the medicinal properties had seeped in.
The dark purple of the bruise had already faded significantly.
The original snow-white color of her skin could even be seen peeking through.
At this rate, when Shen Qi came tonight, there would likely be no need to apply the medicinal wine anymore.
Yuan Shu raised an eyebrow. Pressing two fingers against the bruise, she applied a little force.
Instantly, the fading purple mark darkened dramatically.
In the original book, Shen Qi harbored a secret desire for the original Yuan Shu, born purely out of physical attraction.
However, those feelings were quickly disrupted.
But now, she was simply forcing him to bring those hidden thoughts out into the open!
Yuan Shu had only intended to fake an injury to test the waters, but to her surprise, Shen Qi took the bait so quickly.
She believed it wouldn't be long before the supreme spiritual root in his body would be hers to use!
Knock, knock, knock!
A rhythmic knocking came from outside. Yuan Shu looked up and recognized the silhouette at the door.
"Come in."
The door pushed open, and Yun Sheng walked in slowly, his head slightly lowered, carrying a tray.
Yuan Shu turned her head to glance at him.
On the tray sat a bowl of fragrant spiritual rice porridge.
"Miss Yuan, are... are you alright?"
Yun Sheng's face was etched with worry, his handsome, thin lips pressed tightly together.
He had seen with his own eyes how Yuan Shu was sent flying by Ji Yunzhao, lying pale and in agony in Shen Qi's arms.
He was deeply concerned.
But with Shen Qi there, he hadn't dared to step forward, nor did he feel worthy of doing so.
He could only come in to ask after her once Shen Qi had left.
Yuan Shu's complexion had returned to normal. The innocent, naive facade she wore in front of Shen Qi was gone.
On that stunning face leaning against the headboard, there was only a careless composure.
Her entire demeanor and aura had undergone an earth-shattering transformation.
The sight left Yun Sheng stunned for a moment.
"I'm fine."
Yuan Shu replied faintly.
It was nothing more than a little trick to get closer to Shen Qi.
When Ji Yunzhao's punch landed, she had already secretly deflected most of the force.
The seemingly severe injury on her chest was self-inflicted, as were the wounds on her wrists.
They only looked terrible; in reality, they didn't hurt at all.
Shen Qi coveted her face, and by displaying just the right amount of vulnerability, she had successfully aroused his protective instincts.
By appropriately creating opportunities for intimate contact, she ensured he wouldn't be able to get her out of his head.
Once everything fell into place, the things she wanted would simply deliver themselves to her doorstep!
"Your injuries... how are they?" Yuan Shu lifted her eyes to look at Yun Sheng's face.
She hadn't expected that Yun Sheng, a mere first-level Qi Condensation cultivator, would dare to rush in front of Ji Yunzhao to stop him.
The palm strike Ji Yunzhao gave him was no small matter.
Yun Sheng never expected Yuan Shu to care about him. He quickly shook his head. "I'm fine."
Saying that, he picked up the spiritual rice porridge and stepped forward. "I just finished making this spiritual rice porridge. Would you like to eat now?"
He remembered Yuan Shu saying that her three daily meals should be delivered to her room.
"Put it down first." Yuan Shu pointed to the edge of the bed. "Sit down and take off your clothes."
"Ah?" Hearing this, Yun Sheng was dumbfounded for a second.
But under Yuan Shu's unquestionable gaze, he obediently set the porridge aside.
He then slowly took off his upper garment and carefully sat on the edge of her bed.
Yun Sheng had a large frame, but he was lean. The shape of his bones was faintly visible on his exposed chest.
The sight made Yuan Shu frown involuntarily.
Her gaze landed on his chest and abdomen, where a very real, dark purple bruise rested.
For a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, sending a first-level Qi Condensation cultivator flying was simply too easy.
A casual palm strike was enough to leave behind an extraordinary injury!
"Does it hurt?"
He shook his head.
Yuan Shu glanced at him and reached out a finger to gently press the spot, immediately eliciting a muffled groan of pain from Yun Sheng above her.
She snorted softly. "If you know it hurts, then next time you encounter something you can't handle, don't try so hard to step forward."
With that, Yuan Shu took out a bottle of medicinal liquid from the Divine Acacia Tree, poured some into her palm, and gently covered the bruise on Yun Sheng's chest and abdomen.
The cool liquid, warmed slightly by her palm, brought a refreshing sensation.
Yun Sheng's body tensed up. He hadn't expected Yuan Shu to personally apply medicine for him, let alone massage it in.
The person who was once so high and mighty was actually caring for him now?
Yun Sheng found it hard to believe, but a secret joy bloomed in his heart, making his Adam's apple bob wildly.
He stared unblinkingly at Yuan Shu. From an angle she couldn't see, his gaze traced the delicate contours of her face bit by bit.
Yuan Shu looked so beautiful like this...
Was he dreaming?
Could a person's personality suddenly change so drastically?
Or was she, perhaps, not Yuan Shu at all?
Yun Sheng's heart skipped a beat, and his eyes involuntarily fixed on her face.
There were no signs of disguise on this face, nor any traces of spiritual power manipulation!
He was so familiar with her face; it was impossible for a second person to forge it so meticulously and flawlessly.
So, she was still her?
It was just that her personality had improved!
Yun Sheng couldn't help but swallow, feeling incredibly fortunate that he hadn't chosen to leave this morning.
Beautiful moments always passed by too quickly.
Once the medicinal liquid was fully absorbed, Yuan Shu withdrew her hand.
"Did you memorize the massage technique I just used? Do this once every night before bed. Keep it up for a few days, and this injury will fully heal."
Shen Qi thought Yuan Shu had no medicine on hand, but he never realized she simply hadn't taken it out.
She had as much of this kind of medicine as she wanted!
"Yes." Yun Sheng quickly stood up and carefully accepted the medicine bottle Yuan Shu handed him with both hands.
"Mm. Put your clothes on and feed me."
Yuan Shu adjusted her cuffs and closed her eyes, leaning lazily against the pillows behind her.
Hearing this, Yun Sheng hurriedly dressed himself, picked up the spiritual rice porridge, and carefully fed a spoonful to Yuan Shu's lips.
Yuan Shu took a bite, her expression shifting slightly. "Did you add Five-Spirit Chicken meat?"
"Just a little, but the most important ingredient is the Five-Spirit Chicken Soup. It is the key to the porridge's savory flavor."
Yun Sheng's voice was warm and gentle, much like the man himself, making it incredibly soothing to hear.
Yuan Shu murmured a soft acknowledgment. Finding the pillow behind her a bit too stiff, she simply reached out, pulled him to sit behind her, and leaned back against his shoulder.
Yun Sheng froze, completely caught off guard. It was not until the faint, delicate scent of pear blossoms—a fragrance that belonged uniquely to Yuan Shu—drifted into his nose that he snapped out of his daze.
His heart went thump, thump, thump... beating frantically in his chest.
"Yun Sheng, you need to eat more and put on some weight. Your bones are poking me, and it is uncomfortable."
...
